Rick Baker

Founder Spirited Leaders Corporation

  • Waterloo ON

INSPIRE PEOPLE, GROW PROFITS!

Contact

Social

Biography

Rick helps entrepreneurs improve their businesses. He has founded or co-founded 8 companies and 1 partnership. Several of his companies grew rapidly to multi-$Millions in annual sales…the largest to $1 Million per day in the first 3 years.

Rick injects enthusiasm, personal stories, and creative thought - all aimed at helping business people be comfortable, confident, and inspired about their work. Rick’s messages are about People: about their differences; about their personal strengths; about their characters; about their habits, some good, some bad; about their business visions and their business dreams; about how people can try new things and change for the better. He co-founded a business that achieved $1 Million per day in sales within its first 3 years. He has helped clients build $1-Billion businesses.

Rick is a life-long learner. It dates back to childhood, when his mother inspired in him a love of books and an attitude of curiosity…and independence. Rick has a large library of business, self-development, philosophy, psychology, and other educational books. But, the most-important lessons have been learned by Rick at the School of Hard Knocks. Rick has been an ‘achiever and commander’ since childhood. His drive coupled with his inability to control his natural potential to command caused much havoc during most of his career. Rick intimidated people without trying…sometimes, without even knowing it was happening.

Over the last half of his 30-year career Rick has changed. For this, he gives credit to his son, Frank, who faces challenges unknown to most of us. As he tried to help his son, Rick began to read books about the brain, about behaviour, and specifically about how people can change their thinking, their feelings, and their habits. As Rick worked to help his son, he recognized the need to change his own thoughts, feelings, and habits.

Rick believes, and he inspires business people to understand:
• Business Only Contains 3 Things: People, Process-Systems, & Situations
• People Only Do 3 Things: Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things
• Courage and Confidence are the starting place for personal values and attractive character
• Better understanding of self and of others is the main key to change
• Improved Communication, and simple 1-Page Tools, are other keys
• And, Change is Only Constructive when People are Comfortable

Industry Expertise

Business Services
Training and Development
Human Resources

Areas of Expertise

A) Business Changing for the Better: Good Habits Bad Habits & New Things
People Process & Situations

Affiliations

  • Centre for Family Business
  • The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce

Testimonials

Experience Entrepreneurship program

Conestoga College, Mar 2012

I had the honour of having Rick as my mentor through the Experience Entrepreneurship program at Conestoga College. Rick was a pleasure to work with. He generously opened up his life and provided us with a wealth of knowledge. He provided tools and tips for pin pointing my strengths, developing those strengths, and focusing my career path. His insights and enthusiasm was inspiring. I would highly recommend anyone to Rick as I believe he is a superb example of an entrepreneur and is dedicated to sharing his skills and knowledge.

Student

Wilfrid Laurier University, May 2010

Rick Baker is one of my most valued business and life mentors. I had the privilege of meeting Rick when he volunteered as a judge at the launchpad 50k business competition in 2008. He came up to me after I presented and the awards were presented and handed me his business card and said to me, "Great job up there, here's my card, you're going to want to call me". Thankfully, I called him and he ended up taking me on as an intern for a semester at Spirited Investors. Working for him at Spirited Investors was an eye opening experience in the private equity world of business. He will continue to be one of my role models as a person and a successful businessman. Thanks a lot Rick!

Business Development Manager

Modevation Media, May 2010

Rick is a key member of our advisory team. Rick's guidance, knowledge and experience have helped Modevation Media articulate our value proposition to the market, and to evaluate and identify business models that work.

Rick has an authentic enthusiasm and passion for building businesses, and he would make an excellent addition to any board.

I highly recommend Rick to any company that is looking to grow their business.

Show All +

Sample Talks

People: Unleashing Individuals’ Talents & Strengths

Help inspire your people to focus on Individuals’ Talents and Strengths

If your managers focus on each person's individual strengths, then there will be a 99% likelihood that your people will be 6 times more actively engaged in their day-to-day work!

Talents & Strengths Topics:
• Talk About Talent!
• Talk About Feeling Positive!
• Strengths-based Recruiting
• Strengths-based Role Descriptions & Performance Reviews
• Advanced Strengths Coaching

Availability

  • Keynote
  • Panelist
  • Workshop Leader
  • Author Appearance
  • Corporate Training

Fees

$2500 to $3500*Will consider certain engagements for no fee